1. contemplate: think (about) deeply and thoughtfully
Examples:
　　　　　The doctor contemplated the diffi cult operation he had to perform.
　　　　　The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system.

2. challenge: question the truth, rightness or validity of something
Examples:
　　　　　The teacher challenged my statement that rice grows in Oregon.
　　　　　Traditional female roles are constantly being challenged by contemporary feminists.

3. complex: difficult to understand, explain, or deal with
Examples:
　　　　　What he said is too complex for me to understand.
　　　　　Life is getting more complex and difficult for the people in that country.

4. various: different from each other; (many) different kinds of
Examples:
　　　　　There has been snow today in various parts of the country.
　　　　　He gave me a job of going around the various offices to collect the fees.

5. face: be in a position in which one must deal with (a problem or unpleasant situation)
Examples:
　　　　　Sooner or later he will face being on his own.
　　　　　Manufacturing industry faces a grim future if the government pursues its present policies.

6. appreciate: recognize and enjoy the good qualities or worth of
Examples:
　　　　　He quit his job, because his abilities were not appreciated in the company.
　　　　　They chose to attend the medical college, for doctors are highly appreciated in that country.

7. offer: provide; give
Examples:
　　　　　This agreement does not offer much hope of a lasting peace.
　　　　　The booklet offers practical advice to people with housing problems.

8. passion: a strong liking
Examples:
　　　　　He devoted every spare moment to the pursuit of his passion.
　　　　　She had an extraordinary passion for Shakespeare. She collected almost all his books.

9. desire: strong hope or wish
Examples:
　　　　　He expressed a desire to see that the papers should be made public.
　　　　　The two leaders spoke their desire for improved relations during the peace talk held last week.

10. extraordinary: more than what is ordinary; special
Examples:
　　　　　The government passed an Act to give the army extraordinary powers.
　　　　　Her strength of will was extraordinary; she never gave up no matter what circumstances she was in.

11. pursuit: an activity to which one gives one’s time, whether as work or for pleasure
Examples:
　　　　　The whole magazine is produced and edited in the pursuit of excellence.
　　　　　They are passionate about their life-long pursuit of their chosen subject.

12. values: standard or principles; ideas about the worth or importance of certain qualities
Examples:
　　　　　The values of today’s young people differ from those of their parents.
　　　　　People behave in certain ways because of their social values.

13. contribute: say or do things to help to make something successful
Examples:
　　　　　He didn’t contribute one idea to the discussion.
　　　　　The Song dynasty contributed three great inventions to world civilization.

14. take advantage of: make use of
Examples:
　　　　　We took advantage of the fi ne weather today to play tennis.
　　　　　We will take full advantage of the exceptional opportunities open in export.

15. explore: examine (especially a subject or question) carefully in order to fi nd out more
Examples:
　　　　　We must explore all possible ways to increase food production.
　　　　　Mathematics is the instrument used by the physical sciences to explore phenomena and record conclusion.

16. sustain: keep in existence over a long period; maintain
Examples:
　　　　　The runner was able to sustain the same pace for hours.
　　　　　We were too tired to sustain the interesting conversation.

17. rewarding: (of an experience or action) worth doing or having; giving satisfaction
Examples:
　　　　　Reading can be rewarding to everyone.
　　　　　A tour of the Great Wall is an immensely rewarding experience.

18. urge: request earnestly; try to persuade
Examples:
　　　　　They urged that the library be kept open during the vacation.
　　　　　They urged the local government to approve plans for their reform program.

19. (be) related (to): connected in some way
Examples:
　　　　　The fall in the cost of living is directly related to the drop in oil price.
　　　　　The theme of the dialogue should be related to the theme of the reading passage.

20. assure: tell firmly and with confidence, especially with the aim of removing doubt; promise
Examples:
　　　　　The captain of the ship assured the passengers that there was no danger.
　　　　　They were assured that they would have the right to work.

21. individual: a single person or thing
Examples:
　　　　　You can have the bathroom designed to suit your individual needs.
　　　　　This honor is not given to me as an individual but as a representative of a literary movement.

22. engage: attract and keep (the interest and attention) of (someone)
Examples:
　　　　　The spots of blood on the floor engaged the attention of the police.
　　　　　Her attention was engaged by the display of new hats in the shop window.

23. transform: change completely in form, arrangement, or nature
Examples:
　　　　　The five years that he spent on the ship transformed him from a boy to a man.
　　　　　In the past 20 years the country has been transformed into an advanced industrial power.